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U.K. authorities detain man after car reportedly tries to ram military base used by U.S. Air Force

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Monday, December 18, 2017
6:01:36 EST PM

This is a Jan. 8, 2015 file photo of U.S.Air Force Base, RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk Eastern England. British police said Monday dec. 18, 2017 that they are responding to a "significant" incident at a Royal Air Force base used by the U.S. Air Force. (Chris Radburn/PA File, via AP)

LONDON -- A British military air base in England used by the U.S. Air Force was locked down Monday after a disturbance of some kind, but the emergency measure ended when a man was taken into custody, police and Air Force officials said.

American service members fired shots during the incident at the Royal Air Force base in Suffolk, according to county police. No one was injured other than the detained man, who suffered cuts and bruises, police said.

The nature of the disturbance was unclear, although British media reported that a car tried to ram the perimeter gates at RAF Mildenhall.

Police have responded to reports of a disturbance at RAF Mildenhall in #Suffolk and a man has been detained with cuts and bruises and taken into custody. No other people have been injured as a result of the incident.

Suffolk police said they were not looking for any other suspects at the site.

The base located about 80 miles (130 kilometres) north of London is home to 3,000 military personnel and their families. The U.S., which has long made extensive use of air bases in Britain, has air-refuelling assets stationed there.

The Pentagon initially urged all individuals near RAF Mildenhall to avoid it, but the lockdown was lifted about an hour after the potential threat was reported. Suffolk police said nearby schools and businesses had resumed normal activities because there was no danger to the community.

British police secure the area outside RAF Mildenhall, England, an incident and a suspect was arrested after a disturbance at the base, Monday Dec. 18, 2017. (Sam Russell/PA via AP)

The Mildenhall base was scouted out in 2015 by an Islamic extremist who eventually received a life sentence for plotting an attack against U.S. military personnel.

Junead Khan was tried for using his job as a delivery driver to study RAF Mildenhall and another Royal Air Force base.

A jury convicted Khan last year of planning to travel to Syria as a supporter of the Islamic State extremist group and preparing possible attacks at Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath, which is also used by U.S. personnel.

Authorities have not said if the incident at Mildenhall was suspected to be terrorist-related. Details have not yet been released and the identity of the man in custody has not been made public.

A handout picture released by the US Air Force on December 18, 2017 shows a KC-135 Stratotanker taking off for an aerial refueling mission over the North Sea from Royal Air Force (RAF) Mildenhall in east England on July 25, 2006. MASTER SGT LANCE CHEUNG/AFP/Getty Images

The Mildenhall base is home to the U.S. Air Force's 100th Air Refuelling Wing, which is responsible for American refuelling operations across Europe.

Other units, including the 501st Combat Support Wing, the 352nd Special Operations Wing and the 95th Reconnaissance Squadron are also stationed there.

Britain's official terrorist threat level has been set as "severe" indicating that intelligence agencies believe an attack is highly likely.